糖酵解和脂肪酸氧化抑制剂对摘除卵巢猪血清促黄体素和葡萄糖的影响

研究了急性能量阻断对血清促黄体素和葡萄糖的影响。选用美国佐治亚州雅森斯当地杂交青年母猪 2 0头 ,体重(5 9 7± 10 2 )kg ,12 0～ 130日龄。实验前两周摘除卵巢 ,随机分为 4组 ,每组 5头 :①生理盐水组 (对照 ) ;②糖酵解抑制剂组 (2 脱氧 D 葡萄糖 ,2DG ,40 0mg·kg-1) ;③脂肪酸氧化抑制剂组 (巯基乙酸盐 ,MA ,2 0 0mg·kg-1) ;④ 2DG +MA组。通过颈静脉给药。给药前 2h至给药后 6h经颈静脉导管每 15min采血样一次。次日分离血清后 ,用葡萄糖氧化酶试剂盒定量分析血清葡萄糖浓度 ,用放射免疫分析法 (RIA)定量分析血清促黄体素 (LH)。结果如下 :(1)与对照组比较 ,注射 2DG和 2DG +MA后 ,血清葡萄糖浓度显著升高(P <0 0 5 ) ,而注射MA后未见明显变化。 2DG +MA处理对血清葡萄糖浓度的影响大于 2DG。 (2 )与处理前期相比 ,2DG和 2DG +MA抑制了LH的分泌 ,而生理盐水和MA处理未影响LH的分泌。注射 2DG和 2DG +MA后 ,平均和基础血清LH的浓度低于注射生理盐水组 (P <0 0 2 ) ;但LH的脉冲频率和幅度不受上述处理的影响。实验结果表明 ,能量的可获得性通过脑内的感受器影响垂体激素的分泌     

Testing newly introduced ornamental plants to the arid climate of Kuwait

Thirty five ornamental plants were introduced into the Ahmadi Bioremediated Soil Park to screen and closely monitor the growth performance of these new introductions under the local environmental conditions. Out of these 35 plant species, 15 were planted in both bioremediated and agricultural soils to assess their suitability for growing in bioremediated soils. Data on vegetative growth was recorded to assess the performance of newly-introduced plants, whereas, the heat stress was documented of Bauhinia blakeana, where no visible effects of petroleum pollutants on plant growth were observed. Performance of each plant group is discussed separately in the text. Overall, plant survival was 72.73% for all plant groups. Generally, plants that failed to grow in bioremediated soil also did not survive in the agricultural soil, indicating that they were sensitive to heat stress more than the presence of petroleum contaminants in the soil. New plant species that were able to establish and perform satisfactorily will be used in greenery projects after they are fully naturalized to the prevailing climatic conditions.     

Identification of Polymorphisms in the Osteopontin Gene and Their Associations with Certain Semen Production Traits of Water Buffaloes in the Brazilian Amazon

The osteopontin gene may influence the fertility of water buffaloes because it is a protein present in sperm. The aim of this work was to identify polymorphisms in this gene and associate them with fertility parameters of animals kept under extensive grazing. A total of 306 male buffaloes older than 18 months, from two farms, one in the state of Amapá and the other in the state of Pará, Brazil were used in the study. Seven SNPs were identified in the regions studied. The polymorphisms were in gene positions 1478, 1513 and 1611 in the region 5′upstrem and positions 6690, 6737, 6925 and 6952 in the region amplified in intron 5. The SNPs were associated with the traits, namely scrotal circumference, scrotal volume, sperm motility, sperm concentration and sperm pathology. There were significant SNPs (p < 0.05) for all the traits. The SNP 6690 was significant for scrotal circumference, sperm concentration, sperm motility and sperm pathology and the SNP 6737 for scrotal volume. The genotype AA of SNP 6690 presented the highest averages for scrotal circumference, sperm concentration and motility and the lowest total number of sperm pathologies. For the scrotal volume trait, the animals with the largest volume were correlated with the presence of the genotype GG of SNP 6737. These results indicate a significance of the osteopontin gene as it seems to exert a substantial influence on the semen production traits of male buffaloes.     

Factors affecting the prevalence and severity of footrot in a Merino flock selected for resistance to Haemonchus contortus

SUMMARY An outbreak of virulent footrot occurred in three lines of sheep selected for different levels of resistance to Haemonchus contortus , providing an opportunity to examine the factors affecting footrot severity. The selection lines did not differ significantly in average footrot score, but various other factors were found to have an effect. In breeding ewes, the average score was 10.2 (maximum possible score 20) and the prevalence of footrot was 96%. There was a significant age effect, with average score increasing from 9.1 ± 0.8 in 2-year-old ewes, to 13.4 ± 0.9 in 7-year-old ewes. Ewes that lost their lambs tended to have higher scores than those that either failed to lamb or successfully reared their litter. Significant differences in footrot score were caused by the lambing paddock in which the ewes had been, during the period seven weeks to one week before infection. Among lambs, aged about 20 weeks, the average footrot score was lower (5.0), as was the prevalence (75%). The score increased by an average of 0.09 ± 0.03 per day of age and the prevalence increased by an average of 0.6%± 0.3% per day of age. Lambs born and reared as twins had significantly lower scores than singles, and progeny of maiden dams had lower scores than progeny of older ewes. There was no significant difference because of the sex of the lamb. The paternal half-sib estimate of heritability of footrot score was 0.20 ± 0.14 and of the genetic correlation between footrot score and worm egg count was essentially zero (0.02 ± 0.20), but these estimates were probably biased by the confounding of sires with lambing paddocks. Nevertheless, the results strongly suggest that there are no adverse genetic associations between resistance to footrot and resistance to internal parasites.     

Luteinizing hormone release after administration of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist Fertilan (goserelin) for synchronization of ovulation in pigs

The generic GnRH agonist, Fertilan (goserelin), was tested for the ability to induce an LH surge and ovulation in estrus-synchronized gilts. Three experiments were performed to 1) examine the effect of various doses of Fertilan on secretion of LH in barrows, to select doses to investigate in gilts (Exp. 1); 2) determine doses of Fertilan that would induce a preovulatory-like rise of LH in gilts (Exp. 2); and 3) determine the time of ovulation after Fertilan treatment (Exp. 3). In Exp. 1, 10 barrows were injected on d 1, 4, 7, 10, and 13 with 10, 20, or 40 microg of Fertilan; 50 microg of Gonavet (depherelin; GnRH control) or saline (negative control); and sequential blood samples were collected for 480 min. There was a dose-dependent stimulation (P < 0.05) of LH release. Maximal plasma concentrations of LH (LH(MAX)) were 2.1 +/- 0.2, 4.1 +/- 0.3, 2.6 +/- 0.4, and 3.4 +/- 0.3 ng/mL after 10, 20, and 40 microg of Fertilan and 50 microg of Gonavet, respectively, and duration of release was 78 +/- 9, 177 +/- 12, 138 +/- 7, and 180 +/- 11 min, respectively. Fertilan doses of 10 and 20 microg were deemed to be the most suitable for testing in gilts. In Exp. 2, 12 gilts received (after estrus synchronization with Regumate and eCG) injections of 10 or 20 microg of Fertilan or 50 microg of Gonavet 80 h after eCG to stimulate a preovulatory-like LH surge and ovulation. An LH surge was induced in 3 of the 4 gilts in both of the Fertilan groups and in all of the Gonavet-treated gilts. Characteristics of induced release of LH did not differ among groups: LH(MAX), 5.0 +/- 0.9 vs. 4.6 +/- 1.8 vs. 6.6 +/- 1.1 ng/mL; duration, 11.7 +/- 2.0 vs. 12.3 +/- 2.2 vs. 14.3 +/- 0.5 h; interval from GnRH injection to LH(MAX), 4.0 +/- 2.0 vs. 6.7 +/- 1.3 vs. 5.8 +/- 1.6 h. In Exp. 3, estrus-synchronized gilts were injected with 20 microg of Fertilan (n = 8) or 50 microg of Gonavet (n = 4), and the time of ovulation was determined by repeated endoscopic examination. Time of ovulation ranged from 34 to 42 h postGnRH; however, ovulation occurred earlier in the Gonavet compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). Results of these experiments indicate that 1) barrows are an appropriate model for determining GnRH doses that can be effective in inducing a preovulatory-like LH surge in females; 2) the generic GnRH agonist Fertilan, at doses of 10 to 20 microg, can stimulate an LH surge in gilts, with subsequent ovulation; and 3) Fertilan at doses of 10 and 20 microg should be examined further for use in fixed-time insemination protocols.     

Epidemiological studies of pig diseases: 2. Post-weaning diarrhoea and performance in Western Australian pigs

Objective To determine in Australian pig herds the accuracy of French protocols for risk factor assessment of post-weaning diarrhoea and illthrift.
Procedure French protocols for the collection of data on health indicators and risk factors for post-weaning diarrhoea were conducted on 54 batches of weaner pigs from 28 Western Australian pig herds during three years.
Results Large variations in post-weaning performance were found. About one-third of the batches were growing at <200 g/day during the 3 weeks after weaning, and 54% had growth rates of <250 g/day. Weaning age and weight of at least 30 days and 7.9 kg, respectively, optimised weaner performance. Other risk factors associated with little post-weaning diarrhoea and good weaner performance were high creep feed intakes, relatively little diarrhoea as suckers, and, contrary to expectations, large temperature fluctuations.
Conclusion Overall, the 'predictability' of post-weaning problems as assessed by measurement of risk status, was good. However, the model was less accurate at predicting the performance of a single batch of pigs.     

Quantity of IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐10, INF‐γ, TNF‐α and KC‐Like Cytokines in Serum of Bitches With Pyometra in Different Stages of Oestrous Cycle and Pregnancy

The occurrence of the pyometra is most common in the first half of the dioestrus when there is decreased cellular immunity associated with increased serum concentration of progesterone in females. The aim of this study was to determine the immunological profile of bitches with pyometra, studying serum levels of IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐10, IFN‐γ, KC‐like and TNF‐α and comparing them with those of healthy bitches in anoestrus, dioestrus and pregnant. Forty females were divided into four experimental groups: group 1 (G1): with pyometra (n = 10); group 2 (G2): bitches in the second week of gestation (n = 10); group 3 (G3): in anoestrus (n = 10); and group 4 (G4): in dioestrus (n = 10). The serum levels for IL‐2, KC‐like, INF‐γ and TNF‐α were similar for all experimental groups. The values obtained for IL‐10 were found increased (p < 0.001) in animals in dioestrus and pyometra compared with females in anoestrus and pregnant, and the levels of IL‐4 observed were significantly greater (p < 0.001) in bitches with pyometra when compared with others. The cytokine profile in animals with pyometra is similar to bitches in dioestrus for IL‐10 and had increase in IL‐4 for bitches with pyometra, which represents an anti‐inflammatory these cases. This suggests the presence of an immunosuppressive state in both cases, which may explain the propensity of bitches in dioestrus to be affected by pyometra and the severity of the disease on these animals.